Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20

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The coroners jury attribute the accident at the
"Y" TO 1.-The very rapid rate Of speed at which
trains habitually enter the city" and round
the ~" The verdict Is not sufficiently full
and u to some extent misleading. II Is q finding
that the b. o. trains habitually run through the
city streets at great and presumably illegal rate
OF speed, ard uEquestionaDly the wrecked train
was not conforming TO the ordinances; but the
jury failed 10 ascertain and say what were the
causes or this excessive speed in the par.
ticGlar case before them. The implication,
psrnapA Is that the sped Was voluntarily given
70 the train In pursuance OF the roads habit 10
Iun It's engines fast IN the city, and that the blame
fails directly upon the engineer representing the
company. But every one believes that this was a
runaway train, that the engineer tried 10 every
way possible TO cheek its speed, that the air
brakes were ineffective and The hand-trakes could
Tot be utilized for LACK OF time OF men, and that
the engineer instead OF voluntarily causing and
facing the customary dangers OF entrance into the
city, appreciated his great peril from matters
beyond his control and died braveiy at his post In
the attempt to bring his engine to stand still.
The Jury should either have directly negatived
this belief or should have recognized these facts
and ascertained why the brakes failed TO check
The speed OF this particular train, whether the
air-brakes employed were OF the best pattern or
cheap. old-fsshioned and unsafe, and whether
SUFFICIENT force was provided by the road IT, insure
the stoppage OF the train by hand-brakes In Case
OF failure OF the air brakes to work. The thorough
ness OF the honest and intelligent jury In the case
Of the collision on the Baltia3re and Ohio at Re-
public could properly have been eI1uIated. There
the whole matter was carefully considered, and
all the combining causes OF the disaster were
given proper place La the verdict, including the
rotten, leaky boiler and oserworked engineer
On the freight Train, and the '1nfertor,
Ineffective and unsafe brakes on the
limited express Tho dangers from the
fast running OF trains IN the city are great. and
residents OF the streets adjacent 10 the track from
whom the jurors were largely selected, wildly
appreciate them. Bat this was not AN ordinary
case OF fast running. 1t does not appear that the
engineer WAS bianeahle The employees OF the B.
and q. road, through wisdom in selection and long
retention, are o well-tralned and reliable body OF
nlen The ID. and q. accidents are generally due to
unprogressiveness and iiisc economy In tine equip
ment OF trains and the supply OF tracks and not TO
faults Of its officials. The present disaster Is not
au exception 10 this rule.
The marquis OF Salisbury has followed up hts re-
roy OF Ireland 10 "prociaim" the National League
under the new crimes act. The process OF "pro-
claiming" consists simply in publicly denouncing
the organization An enemy 70 the peace and good
order OF the realm, ami commanding its dtscon-
ti1uance. ThencefOrward, any person who en-.
ten IL or remains connected with 1t Is subject to
imprisonment at hard labor, without jury trial
The cause alleged for so radical a resort Is that
by boycotting and terrorism, the league has OBJ
strueted the due execution of the laws and inspired
the Masses OF the people with seditiOus
sentiments. 1t will be remembered that
NJ. GiadStone's government several years
40 proclaimed the Land League, and, after
bard struggle, succeeded apparently In breaking
IL Up. But the fight cost more than 1t returned In
prodt; the eoerctTe measures were dropped; and
tine old society biosSomsd forth without delay
under new name, the National League, which Is
now IL its turn marked for forcible dissolution
There is one feature Of the crimes bill, however
which the Irish patriot party look to with the
hope that they may make use OF it to the damage
OF their foes. 1lat is provision requiring the
viceroy 10 lay his proclamation before parliament
within eight days OF Its issue. As Joseph Cham
berlain and I. W Russell have already severed
their connection with the Ualou Liberal party on
account OF Lord Salisbury's announcement and as
seyeraI other oid-time Liberals who have been
supporting the government for little while seem
likely 10 follow sut IL Is hoped by the Glatiston-
tans and Home Rulers that, when the proclanla-
ton comes before the House OF Commons for
scrutiny IL will call forth adverse vote. Such
reception In either house would nullify 1t without
more ado; and, the present government, having
practically staked It's oil on this issue and met
with defeat at the inst step, would probably have
To make way for another which stood In better
favor with Parliament and the people.
such accounts as have been received thus far
Concerning the burning o. the steamer City OF
Montreal on the high seas are distressing from
one point Of view and reassuriny from another
II Is unfortunate that ships must ever burn at
Sea; but It IS good news that one has burned
without, 50 far As Is known, the loss OF o single
human life, and that the perils of the situation
did not create panic IN cabin or Storage or
turn the occupants OF the fOrecastle into wild
beasts one fact, however, Is painfully evident
even from the most cheerful versions OF the
story; that Is, that the eight boats ON the ships
davis were Inadequate, under ordinary eircum-
stances, 10 the succor VI the more than two hum
dred souls on board, and that accident alone
saved sone persons from drowning or roasting.
Here Is one Of the points AT which governmental
interference On both sides OF the ocean would be
In the interest Of humanity. No vessel shouId no
allowed 10 put 10 sea, no matter how well
equipped In other respects, with boats insufi-
cieut 10 accommodate all persons aboard In case
OF An emergency.
An accomplished scholar, man OF great execu.
tive ability, ureless WORKER, an honest heart
and Kindly spirit ar: LOST to science and the ser
vice OF tie government Ia The DEATH OF Spencer f.
Baird No man worthy IL. ha.nc grudgrd him
his emtnence, Tor lac had bcugh. IL with the best
efforts OF braIa and hand earring thirty years
spent II the public eInp.Uy. SinE.e n tastes and
habits, WITH a almost ChiiiEe frankness OF man.
nei, b. 2isarmed the critics Sho tried at times to
ell In question the administration OF his trust
To no scientist in the country co the masses or
the People owe more than To Professor Baird For
years he tot,ei, without q dollar OF pay at build
Ing up the Fish Commission and making IL the
Useful Institution that 1t now Is Every
American has felt the influence of that
work, perhaps Inconsc;ousy, but not the
les surely, Ia the caeapenIng OF the common
fovd supply oJ the free stocking OF the streams
and Lanes from the government ha;cheries This
great and congeniai work OF his he Will remain
al enduring MONUMENT, perpetaating his IaeIn.
or as long as an Intelligent posterity can read
The story o. bis achievements aud surviving
probably. many other tasxs accomplished under
Ills direction more limited In their practical An
piIcaiion 70 the Improvement OF the condition OF